<p>For these kids, it is ALL about the essays. Both my kids were lopsided, but essays made a huge difference.</p>
<p>Yes, thank you so much collegespecific… we need all the help we can get… I think that this type of kid is the hardest to predict. I feel like I am constantly second guessing my DS and am stressing about him and college. He of course is not stressed at all. Just got his report card and I am literally in tears… for the first time he has managed to get all A’s and a B+. On top of all that all of his teacher’s raved about his leadership and enthusiasm in the class and that the class would not be the same without him in it. So… here we go again with the see-saw. AHHHHH!!! Sound of me pulling hair out!!! I truly think if he does bring his GPA up this year he would have ALOT more options… including some of the top LAC’s. He has some amazing and unique EC’s. Eagle Scout, prestigious nominated national postition in scouts, volunteers on a search and rescue team up in our local mountains once a month, certified first responder, certified rescue diver… just started organizing a scuba conservation effort, and has over 750 hrs volunteering his summers to trail and forestry conservation. Now, about those essays… I’m going to have him start this summer. At least he will have plenty of interesting things to write about.</p>
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<p>For a seriously outdoorsy kid who wants to be a rural ER doctor, Colorado College is a good choice. It’s where the Marlboro Man’s brainier, politically correct grandkid would go.</p>
<p>GKM… " Hopefully a little easier on west coast boys" HERE, HERE!!! </p>
<p>PizzaGirl and tk21769… Yes, Colorado College has been high on his list for a long time. One of his earlier favorites. He hasn’t visited yet, but will probably next Fall, so he can interview and sit in on a few classes at the same time. No interviews or class visits for Juniors unfortunately. By all accounts, does look like a definite winner for him.</p>
<p>mathmom… nice to see another 100 pt difference in Verbal-Math kid. My S is also into high 700’s verbal but is having a hard time getting the math over 650. I was thinking of having my S check out Vassar because it looks like the kind of inclusive and quirky environment he would like. For some reason he really likes the non-grade segregated dorms too. Not sure if they have an outdoor program there. That would be a deal killer for him.</p>
<p>GreatKidsMom - thanks for the welcome! </p>
<p>5boys - it sounds like your son is accomplishing quite a bit, and he will definitely have options. The trick to generating a strong essay topic is avoiding a r</p>
<p>5boys – You might find Middlebury slightly more forgiving than Vassar with a high CR, lower M kid (I had one too). At least that has been the experience of some of the neighbors’ sons and daughters. Middlebury also gives you the option of submitting three Subject Tests in lieu of the SAT I/ACT. Plenty of outdoorsy things to do, both organized and spontaneous, up there in Vermont. Most of the Vassar students I’ve met are more urban-oriented than woodsy, but Vassar does have a Nordic team, Synchronized Skating team and an Outing Club.</p>
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When I went there, we didn’t have to out anybody. They pretty much outed themselves 
(jk… I am being silly today, though what I say is true, even though it isn’t what the poster is referring to…)</p>
<p>collegeSpecific… Thank you! Great advice. I had already been thinking along those lines and will try to guide him in choosing his essay topics. He is VERY humble so I really don’t think he will even want to write about one of his accomplishments, it makes him VERY uncomfortable. I found a prestigious award he just received from his school. It was based on his commitment and dedication to service and leadership throughout the last few years. He didn’t even tell me about it, a teacher did. I found it wadded up in his backpack. It will definitely be a challenge to even get him to write a resume. He could care less about what colleges want to see and is just living his life fully, very passionate about the things he truly cares about. That is what makes him so unique, and I hope he can somehow get that across on his applications.</p>
<p>OK…got some very fantastic news!</p>
<p>S, who was solidly in the top 10% as of end of Jr. year, found out a few weeks ago that he no longer was…although his rank was the same, on the transcript the class size had shrunk dramatically. We were puzzled (I was like, um, wow…did all those kids drop out or move away?) but figured there was nothing to do.</p>
<p>Well, the school has some fancy new data system and it was totally messed up!! The class size hadn’t shrunk dramatically at all; he’s still top 10%! The bad news is the incorrect transcripts have already gone out.</p>
<p>S said the counselor will call the schools…do you think that will be enough for the schools to look for and apply the correct second transcript? Anything further we should do?</p>
<p>GreatKidsMom: </p>
<p>Friend of the family had a similar issue last year with an error on her daughter’s transcript. GC was to call admissions at each of her prospective schools. </p>
<p>It wasn’t until her daughter was deferred at a “safety” school that mom decided to call the college to find out why. Seems the GC didn’t call that particular school. Needless to say, the parent called all others to confirm the proper changes were recorded. Of those she spoke to, it actually did make a huge difference at 2 of her 8 schools. </p>
<p>I’d suggest you have your son’s GC make the effort. As a parent, I’d ask for details from the GC including the admissions officer’s name, dates, and times in order to follow-up with the college if need be.</p>
<p>GKM… WOW!!! That is great news!! Congratulations to the top 10% status. My S’s school does not rank, so it is a bit of a stress reliever for the kids. I’m trying not to focus too much on GPA. I’m just happy his grades are on the rise and if he keeps it up all year I will be over the moon. One good thing is that being at the school in Vermont next semester, I think will be good for his GPA too. They have no cell phone service and limited internet access… I think computers only allowed in the academic areas, not dorm rooms. Also, he won’t have the distraction of all his time consuming EC’s. What else will he have to do but study. LOL!! It’s nice the teacher’s live with the kids in the dorms as well… great for that late-night math questions…</p>
<p>Thanks, PTMajor–that is good advice that I will follow.</p>
<p>5boys–that should be good for grades! That darn internet is such a time-sucker (ahem, as I sit here on CC on a late Thursday afternoon instead of attending one of the massive piles of work in my own office (good thing I’m self employed…) : )</p>
<p>HAHAHAHAHAH!! Ya, that internet… boy does it have a habit of sucking me in. I remember the good ol’ days when I used to… gasp… READ. I’m in 2 book clubs and have yet to start either one of the books for this month. sigh…</p>
<p>I disagree about the importance of the essay in being a determining factor. I think that it is the real exception where an essay tips an applicant in or out. The essay also is not a place where a kids have to toot their own horn (addressing 5boys’ concern about her son’s humility) but a way for the colleges to get a sense of who the kid is. The rest of the application shows the students’ accomplishments.</p>
<p>SDonCC - You are partially right. Strong essays never take the place of weak transcripts and scores. But weak essays can hurt strong transcripts and scores. And when a student has a B+ transcript, the essay is extremely important. Consider how many students apply to LAC’s with GPA’s in this range. With strong test scores, extracurricular activities and teacher recommendations, they will begin to set themselves apart. But it is the essay that makes them unique. You are right that it should never be an opportunity to highlight one’s accomplishments. As I said earlier, it should be used to showcase a student’s personality, through a story or a meaningful interaction with another individual. I have discussed this with several admissions officers throughout the past five years, and my favorite statement comes from the Director of Admissions at Pitzer (I’m paraphrasing here): “A great essay takes an ordinary event and turns it into something extraordinary”. In other words, you don’t have to be superhuman, but you do have to produce something powerful.</p>
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<p>I LOVE THIS! Thank you.</p>
<p>Has anyone that has been through the admissions process already have any input on what colleges think of an upward trend. I was reading “The Gatekeeper” for the umpteenth time and when they are discussing applicants for admission it looked like they really didn’t take that into account. They looked at all grades 9-11th and seemed to weight them all the same. I was just curious if anyone had any thoughts on this. My DS ended up with a 3.1 GPA 9th and 10th, but got all A’s so far this year. Even if he gets all A’s and a few B’s this year and first semester next Fall, would that help or should we be looking at colleges in this thread’s range of GPA’s?</p>
<p>Admissions officers I have heard talk say they will be understanding about less than stellar freshmen grades, however I think they do care about rank (when it’s reported) and GPA so that they aren’t always as understanding as they imply they are. I think my son benefited from the fact that his less good grades were nearly all in Latin, and that his rank was still top 10% (and in fact very close to top 5%).</p>
<p>mathmom… My S’s low grades were also in latin… and 9th grade math. He is now getting A’s in math. He isn’t taking Latin this year because he is going to a school in Vermont 2nd semester and they don’t offer it, so he will take AP Latin next year… yes, I am extremely worried about it, but he loves it even though he struggles. My S’s school does not rank, and I think he is in the middle of his extremely rigorous and competitive prep school that sends over 50% to top 30 schools. I have looked at Naviance but the schools that he is interested in don’t have that many applicants and therefore unreliable.</p>
<p>Also… I’m curious if anyone knows anything about whether the grades that are posted on Naviance are grades through Junior year or they grades all the way to the end of Senior year??? Maybe it is school specific… I was going to ask our GC but just happened to think of that.</p>